Golf club apparatus with furrows and method for configuring furrows

ABSTRACT

A golf club includes a shaft, grip and head attached to the shaft. The head includes a club face, a heel, a toe, and a sole. The shaft is attached to the head proximate the heel; the toe is distal from an attachment point of the shaft. The sole corresponds to a bottom of the head as bounded by the toe and heel, and the leading edge and trailing edge. The leading edge is formed at the intersection of the club face and the sole. The sole defines a plurality of substantially rectangular furrows, which do not extend onto the ball contacting surface. Each furrow is parallel to the other furrows and each is bounded by a rib, such that the ribs separate and define the furrows. Each furrow has flat side surfaces and a flat bottom surface parallel to the back surface of the head.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to the provisional patent application filed on Aug. 10, 2020 and assigned application No. 63/063,432.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf club (specifically wedge, although the invention may be applied to irons) having furrows defined in the sole of the golf club head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf equipment is continuously advancing due to the development of innovative clubs, club designs, and materials. New club designs are of particular interest to amateur golfers as presenting an opportunity to lower one's golf score and reduce frustrations attendant with the game of golf. New club head designs that improve the golfer's score and are compliant with USGA rules are especially attractive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a golf club head as seen from the toe region, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a golf club head as seen from the heel region, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a golf club head, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a golf club head taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a golf club head, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a golf club head, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of method steps associated with data collection and analysis of a coefficient of friction and golf club head customization, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view showing the furrows and ribs in an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts a golf club 10 (preferably an iron or a wedge) comprising a shaft 12, a grip 14, and a head 16.

The head 16 further comprises a ball contacting surface or club face 16A, a heel region 16B, a toe region 16C and a sole region 16D between the heel region and the toe region. A plurality of furrows 20 are formed in the sole region 16D.

As shown, the shaft 12 is attached to the head 16 proximate the heel region 16B, with the toe region 16C distal from an attachment point with the shaft.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the head 16 as seen from the toe region. The sole region 16D includes a bottom surface 16E extending from the toe region to the heel region. The sole region 16D is bounded by a leading edge 16F and a trailing edge 16G.

As illustrated, the leading edge 16F is the edge formed at an intersection of the club face 16A and the sole region 16D. A back surface 18 of the head 16 is also noted.

FIG. 3, a side view as seen from the heel region, illustrates the club face 16A, the back surface 18, and certain elements of the sole region 16D, including: the bottom surface 16E, and the respective leading and trailing edges 16F and 16G. A chamfer 24 between the back surface 18 and the trailing edge 16G is also noted. In the illustrated embodiment furrows 20 are shown; they are described in detail in conjunction with FIG. 4. The furrows extend into the chamfer 24, but do not extend into the leading edge 16F.

As shown in FIG. 4, the golf club 10 defines a plurality of parallel rake-like furrows 20 in the sole region 16D. They extend from proximate the heel region 16B to proximate the toe region 16C. Each furrow 20 extends between the trailing edge 16G and the leading edge 16F. In different embodiments one or more furrows may be in contact with the leading and/or trailing edges, or the one or more furrows may be spaced apart from the leading and/or trailing edges.

With continued reference to FIG. 4, a width of a furrow is indicated by a dimension callout “w1”, a width of a rib is indicated by a dimension callout “w2”, and a length of a furrow is indicated by a dimension callout “s.”

The furrows are not visible from above, i.e., when the golfer, with club in hand addresses the golf ball. Also, there are no openings or holes in the golf club sole region 16D, aside from the furrows. Further, in one embodiment the furrows 20 do not extend onto the club face 16A, but instead are present only in the sole region of the club head. In some embodiments the furrows extend into the chamfer 24 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

With the furrows defined in the club sole region 16D, the coefficient of friction between the sole and the surface on which the golf ball lies is reduced. Thus, the golfer has better control of the interaction between the club face (ball contacting surface) and the golf ball, resulting in enhanced control of the trajectory of the golf ball.

As can be seen especially in FIGS. 4 and 6, each furrow is bounded by two ribs 22. The furrows 20 are substantially parallel to each other and a flat bottom surface 20A of each furrow is substantially parallel to the club face 16A. See FIG. 9. Since the club face is parallel to the back surface 18, then the flat bottom surfaces 20A are also parallel to the back surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, according to one embodiment a depth of the furrows is variable. Furrows 20B proximate the toe and heel regions 16B and 16C, respectively, are shallower than the furrow 20C, for example, at or near a middle region of the plurality of furrows 20. Also note that the ribs slope “upwardly” from a first length at a surface 20D (at an opening of each furrow) to a second length at a surface 20E (in contact with the flat bottom surfaces 20A), where the second length is greater than the first length.

The depth of the furrows is variable. In one embodiment the furrow depth is determined by the shape of the club sole region. The width of the furrows can also vary, from approximately 2 mm to about 3.5 mm. Similarly, a width of the ribs that define the furrows can be between 2 and 3.5 mm. The length of the furrows in variable. In one embodiment a length of a furrow extends from the trailing edge to the back surface, and in another embodiment the length is determined by shape of the sole region. In one embodiment all furrows have the same width (call-out “w1” in FIG. 4) and all ribs have the same width (call-out “w2” in FIG. 4), but this is not a requirement of the invention.

The furrows can be formed in any club iron and are depicted herein as disposed in a wedge.

FIG. 8 discloses a method to collect and analyze a golfer's coefficient of friction with various surfaces, from which an optimized and personized golf club is designed for the golfer. More specifically, in this embodiment of the present invention a sand wedge golf club is designed. The sand wedge defines a plurality of furrows separated by ribs in the sole region of the head. According to this embodiment, the furrows are of equal width at the ball contacting surface or club face 16A (see FIG. 1) and at the back surface 18 (see FIG. 2).

Steps 100 and 102 collect data related to the golfer's swing. The data is aggregated at step 104 and a coefficient of interaction user profile is generated as step 108. The quantity of furrows defined in the club head is determined at step 112. The furrow depth is determined/adjusted at step 114 and the width of the furrows or ribs and troughs are determined/adjusted at step 116. Using the determined values, the club head is cast or machined at step 120. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf club comprising: a shaft; and a head attached to the shaft, the head further comprising: a ball contacting surface; a back surface opposite the ball contacting surface; a sole surface disposed between the ball contacting surface and the back surface, the sole surface in contact with a surface on which a golf ball lies as a golfer swings the club to strike the golf ball; the shaft attached to a heel region of the head; a toe region of the head distal from the heel region; at least two parallel furrows defined in the sole surface and extending proximate the ball contacting surface and proximate the back surface such that the furrows do not extend onto the ball contacting surface; and each of the at least two furrows defining a rectangular opening having flat side surfaces and a flat bottom surface.
 2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the at least two furrows defined in the sole surface extend from the ball contacting surface to the back surface.
 3. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the ball contacting surface is bounded by a leading edge, and wherein each of the at least two furrows are of equal width at the leading edge and at the back surface.
 4. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the ball contacting surface is bounded by a leading edge, wherein the at least two furrows defined in the sole surface extend proximate the leading edge to proximate the back surface.
 5. The golf club of claim 1, wherein a leading edge is a line of demarcation between the ball contacting surface and the sole surface and a trailing edge is a line of demarcation between the sole surface and the back surface, and wherein the at least two furrows extend from the leading edge to the trailing edge.
 6. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the at least two furrows are separated by a rib therebetween.
 7. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the at least two furrows comprise a plurality of furrows, and wherein the plurality of furrows extend between the heel region and the toe region.
 8. The golf club of claim 7, wherein a first furrow from the plurality of furrows is disposed proximate the heel region and has a shorter length than a second furrow from the plurality of furrows disposed approximately midway between the heel region and the toe region.
 9. The golf club of claim 7, wherein a furrow from among the plurality of furrows having a longest length is at approximately a midpoint between the heel region and the toe region.
 10. The golf club of claim 7, wherein each one of the plurality of furrows has a different length and a same width.
 11. The golf club of claim 7, wherein a length of each one of the plurality of furrows follows a shape of the sole surface.
 12. The golf club of claim 7, wherein two successive furrows from the plurality of furrows are separated by a rib, and wherein a plurality of rib surfaces, each rib surface present at an opening of an adjacent furrow, follow a shape of the sole surface.
 13. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the at least two furrows are substantially parallel to each other and the flat bottom surface of each one of the at least two furrows is substantially parallel to the ball contacting surface.
 14. A golf club comprising: a shaft; and a head attached to the shaft, the head further comprising: a ball contacting surface; a back surface spaced apart from the ball contact surface; a heel region, the shaft attached to the head proximate the heel region; a toe region distal from the heel region; and a sole region forming a bottom surface of the head and positioned between the toe region and the heel region, the sole region defining a plurality of furrows, each furrow from the plurality of furrows running from a face surface of the sole to a rear surface of the sole, the plurality of furrows extending from the heel region to the toe region, two consecutive furrows separated by a rib, wherein each rib is of equal width at the face surface and at the rear surface, each one of the plurality of furrows defining an opening having flat side surfaces and a flat bottom surface.
 15. The golf club of claim 14, wherein each one of the plurality of furrows presents a different length.
 16. The golf club of claim 15, wherein one of the plurality of furrows disposed approximately midway between the heel region and the toe region presents a longer length relative to the other furrows of the plurality of furrows.
 17. The golf club of claim 14, wherein each one of the plurality of furrows presents a length following a contour of the face surface of the sole region.
 18. The golf club of claim 14, wherein each one of the plurality of furrows is spaced an equal distance from the face surface of the sole.
 19. A method for configuring a golf club head having furrows defined therein, wherein characteristics of the furrows are personalized for a golfer, the method comprising: (a) collecting data related to the golfer's golf swing; (b) collecting data related to a coefficient of friction between a golf club head and a surface on which a golf ball sets as the golfer swings the golf club to strike the golf ball; (c) determining data related to a coefficient of interaction responsive to data collected at steps (a) and (b); (d) determining a coefficient of interaction user profile for the golfer responsive to data determined at step (c); (e) determining a number of furrows responsive to the coefficient of interaction user profile determined at step (d); (f) determining characteristics of each furrow responsive to the coefficient of Interaction user profile determined at step (d); and (g) manufacturing a golf club head responsive to the number of furrows as determined at step (e) and the characteristics of each furrow as determined at step (e).
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the characteristics of each furrow as determined at step (f) comprise one or more of a furrow length depth, a furrow width, and a rib width. 